The mother, whose identity has not been revealed, has told superiors she was unaware of her condition when she was sent to the war zone in April. She and her son will be airlifted back to Britain in the next few days.

Medics will be on the RAF flight but mum and baby are said to be “in good health”. Sources said she was 34 weeks pregnant at the birth, meaning her baby was six weeks premature.

Before being deployed on front-line duties, the mum underwent gruelling fitness tests – including a forced eight-mile march carrying a 25lb pack. She is one of a few hundred women in the main 9,000-strong UK force but was not engaged in direct fighting.

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A military source in Afghanistan told the Daily Mirror last night: “A comrade giving birth unexpectedly at Camp Bastion is the talk of our forces in Afghanistan.

“We’ve seen female British soldiers having to fly home because they’re pregnant but this lady had absolutely no idea until she went into labour.

“She sure will have a story to tell her son one day about being born on the front line.”

The delivery took place at the Camp Bastion hospital complex just yards away from where UK soldiers are treated for battle wounds.

It is not known if the mother is married or has a partner. The Ministry of Defence refused to comment but sources confirmed that she will not face disciplinary action.

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